Valve actuating assembly for pressurized containers



P 1964 w. c. HARRIS ETAL VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZEDCONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1962 2 Sheets$heet 1 I NV ENTORS Se t. 22,1964 w. c. HARRIS EI'AL' VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZE ZDCONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1962 United States Patent3,149,761 VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURIZED CQNTAINERS William C.Harris and Philip L. Croweil, Racine, Wis, assignors to S. C. Johnson 3;Sons Inc., Racine, Wis. Filed Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 224,357 8 Claims.(Cl. 222394) This invention relates to a valve actuating assembly forpressurized containers. More specifically, the invention relates to avalve actuating assembly equipped with a locking mechanism forpreventing the contents of a pressurized container from beinginadvertently dispensed. The invention also relates to a valve actuatingassembly equipped with a holding means and a valve release mechanismwhich permits the package to be used in an inverted position at armlength.

A number of pressurized products are presently on the market forspraying objects located a significant distance from the pressurizedcontainer for specialized purposes such as eradicating undesirableplants such as thistle, dandelion, plantain, chickweed and the like.These products are difiicult to use, however, since they are equippedwith small tilt valve buttons which must be deflected by a singlefinger, usually the forefinger. Deflecting the valve button under theseconditions is very tiring. The finger is frequently chilled by therapidly vaporizing propellant and is occasionally exposed to the toxicingredients in the product.

Aside from the diifieulties of use, the pressurized container appears tobe the most desirable product with which to eradicate localized weeds inhome lawns. The present invention comprises a valve actuating andcontainer holding assembly for use with a pressurized container toeradicate undesirable garden vegetation in a manner overcoming the abovedifficulties. The invention also embraces a valve actuating and lockingassembly which may be effectively used with a wide variety ofpressurized products such as furniture polishes, paints andinsecticides.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross section of the present valve actuating andcontaining holding assembly mounted on a pressurized container shown inphantom. FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the valveactuating and holding assembly in use in combination with pressurizedcontainers. FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the valve actuating andlocking assembly mounted on a pressurized container.

In FIGURE 1, the pressurized container 11 shown in phantom is equippedwith a valve assembly comprising a valve cup 12, valve stem 13 and valvebutton 14 having a fluid passage 15. Valve cup 12 when assembled withcontainer 11 fits over and is crimped to container bead 16. Anchor ring18 is disposed around the valve cup skirt 17. Lip 19 of the anchor ring18 fits over the lower edge of the valve cup skirt 17 to hold itsecurely after it is snapped into position. An actuator arm 20 isconnected to the anchor ring 18 by a hinge connection 21. The actuatorarm 20, as shown, is hollow, opening on the underside, and has a crossbrace 22 for added stability. The actuator arm also has a verticallydisposed section 23 outlining a circular opening 24 in its centralportion. The inner wall of section 23 defining opening 24 is inclinedinwardly from bottom to top for a distance of about two thirds of thethickness of the anchor ring 18 and for the remainder of the distance isinclined outwardly. The upper and lower diameters of opening 24 arethereby substantially equal While the diameter of the central section issmaller.

3,149,761 Patented Sept. 22, 1964 A pair of vertical guide posts, one ofwhich is designated 34, extend from and above anchor ring 18 in aposition opposite the hinged end 21 of actuator arm 20. The moveable endof actuator arm 20 is positioned between said guide posts for verticalmovement therebetween. The guide posts permit the quick and accuratematching of opening 24 in anchor arm 20 with valve button 14 and preventhinge 21 from being subjected to undue twisting stresses. Guide post 34is shown in FIG- URE l, in reverse cross-hatch since it resides behindthe plane of the cross section. This post also may be seen in FIGURE 4.

When the valve actuating and locking assembly is in use, opening 24 ofactuator arm 20 longitudinally matches fluid passage 15 of valve button14, and when the actuator arm 20 is depressed the inner wall of section23 impinges upon the upper and outer wall portion of valve button 14depressing it thereby actuating the valve, not shown, to permit fluid tobe dispensed from container 11.

Mounted on anchor ring 18 is a nozzle shaped overcap 25 having acircumferential groove 26 on its inner wall. The lower lip 27 of groove26 fits over a circumferential shoulder 28 of anchor ring 18 therebyholding the overcap in position on said ring. Overcap 25 has a centralopening 31 longitudinally matching opening 24 in actuator arm 20 andopening 15 in the valve button 14 to permit unrestricted passage of aspray through the overcap.

Overcap 25 has a cutout comprising connected axial and radial portions32 and 33. This cutout is better seen in FIGURE 4 where actuator arm 28is positioned in the radial portion 33. When the valve actuator andlocking mechanism is assembled, overcap 25 is pressed over the anchorring 18 with the axial portion 32 of the cutout matching actuator arm 20until the circumferential groove 26 on the inner wall of overcap 25engages shoulder 28 of the anchor ring 18. Overcap 25 is rotatable onthe anchor ring 18, so that the overcap may be moved into and out of alocking engagement with the actuator arm.

The valve actuating and locking assembly discussed thus far provides anunique means for actuating the valve of a pressurized container andlocking it to insure that the contents are not dispensed in an untimelymanner. In operation the nozzle 25 is rotated to a position such thatthe actuator arm 20 fits in the axial portion 32 of the cutout in thewall of the overcap 25. The container on which the actuating and lockingassembly is mounted is then inverted. To actuate the valve the free endof the actuator arm 20 is depressed, i.e., moved toward the bottom ofthe container, at which time the inner wall of vertical section 23 ofactuator arm 20 bears upon the top and outer Wall of valve button 14depressing the button and actuating the valve. After use, either overcap25 or anchor ring 18 is rotated so that actuator arm 20 is moved fromthe axial portion 32 to the radial portion 33 of the cutout in theovercap thereby locking the lever in a position so that it cannot bedepressed to engage valve button 14. The nozzle end of overcap 25 couldbe cut oif at the top of the axial portion 32 of the cutout in whichevent actuator arm 20 could still be locked in position by rotatingeither the overcap 25 or actuator arm 20. In this case, actuator arm 20would be locked over what would then be a shoulder or top edge ofovercap 25.

The valve actuating and locking assembly as described above may be usedalone with a pressurized container equipped with any valve button whichis actuated by tilt ing or depressing it adapted to discharge thecontents of the container along the direction of the longitudinal axisof the container. The invention is particularly desirable in this formfor dispensing space deodorants and products for surface applicationsuch as furniture polish, spray starch and the like. When, however, thearticles to be treated are a few feet away, such as lawn weeds the abovevalve actuating and locking assembly will be most advantageously usedwith the container holding device and trigger mechanism shown in thedrawings. This complete assembly will be referred to herein as the valveactuating and holding assembly. In addition to the elements discussedheretofore, the "alve actuating and holding assembly comprises a slingring 35 and a trigger connecting means extending between the sling ring35 and actuator arm 20.

The sling ring 35 has a side wall 36 with lugs 37 and 39 on the innersurface thereof for engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the lowerbead 42 of container 11 to secure the sling ring in position. Extendingbetween the sling ring 35 and the actuator arm 2% is a triggerconnecting means comprising hook 43 for engaging lower container bead 42of container 11, a compensating section 46, strap 45 section and triggersection 4-4. The trigger section 44 is separated from hook 43 by hinge47 and from strap 45 by hinge 48. The compensating section is locatedbetween strap 45 and anchor arm 20 by hinges 51 and 52. The compensatingsection consists of horizontally disposed member 53 and verticallydisposed member 54 joined by hinge 55. The trigger connecting means andthe actuator arm 20 will hereafter and in the claims be referred tocollectively as the trigger assembly.

That part of the valve actuating and holding assembly comprising theanchor ring 18, actuator arm 20 and overcap 25 are assembled asdiscussed previously. Hook 43 then is engaged with the lower head 42 ofcontainer 11. After the hook 43 is snapped around container bead 42,sling ring 35 is fitted over the bottom of the container with the head42 being engaged by lugs 37 and 39 in side wall 36 of the sling ring.

In use, the valve actuating and holding assembly fitted on a pressurizedcontainer is inverted as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 with a plurality offingers wrapped around strap or handle 38 diametrically crossing slingring 35. Container 11 with which the sling ring is used has a re cessedbottom 29 to accommodate positioning of the fingers around handle 33.Compensating section 46 of the trigger assembly permits strap 45 andtrigger section 44 to rest close to the container wall 11 when thedevice is not in use. The compensating section also permits the actuatorarm 20 to be raised above valve button 14 when this is desired withoutremoving anchor ring 18 from engagement with the valve cup. Thecompensating section further permits the index finger to be placedbetween the strap and the side wall of container 11 pulling the triggersection 44 down to a substantially horizontal position to form a triggerwhich may then be pulled further toward the bottom of the containerthereby bringing the actuator 20 to bear on valve button 14 to open thevalve and cause product to be dispensed.

The sling ring, anchor ring and the various parts of the triggerassembly may be molded as separate units and joined with hinges of anysuitable material and construction. Alternately, any combination ofthese items may be molded together. For example, the sling ring, anchorring, trigger assembly and even the valve button could be molded as anintegral unit.

The assemblies of the present invention may be constructed from anysuitable material or combinations of material, such as plastic or metal.Plastic such as low density and linear polyethyline, polypropylene, orpolystyrene and copolymers of these materials are preferred. Verysuitable assemblies have been prepared by utilizing low densitypolyethylene for the sling ring, polypropylene for the anchor ring andtrigger assembly and linear polyethylene for the overcap. Polypropyleneis particularly desirable for use in molding trigger assembly and anchorring since it permits this assembly to be molded as an integral unitwith thin sections constituting tough long life flexible hinges betweenthe various components of the assembly.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for purpose ofillustration only and that this invention includes all modifications andequivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A valve actuating assembly for a pressurized container having arecessed bottom and equipped with a valve assembly including a valvebutton adapted to discharge the contents of said container along thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the container when depressed, saidvalve actuating assembly comprising (a) an anchor ring to be disposedaround the valve assembly of said container and secured to the valve (b)a sling ring to be secured to the lower extremity of said container,said sling ring having a transverse strap disposed across the bottom ofsaid container when assembled therewith for gripping by inserting thefingers around it (c) a trigger assembly comprising (1) an actuator armwith a central opening hinged to one edge of said anchor ring andextending thereacross said actuator arm bearing on the valve button ofsaid container valve assembly when depressed and having an openinglongitudinally matching the valve opening in the valve button (2) astrap connecting the free end of said actuator arm with said sling ringwhereby the valve button is depressed or tilted when said strap ispulled toward the bottom of said, container, said strap having acompensating section located near the actuator arm comprising aplurality of hinges and horizontal linkage disposed therebetween wherebythe strap when not in use is maintained closely alongside the containerand yet is long enough to permit insertion of a finger between the strapand container and a trigger section located near the sling ring, and

(d) an overcap mounted on said actuator ring, said overcap having acentral opening matching the opening in the actuator arm and the valvebutton to permit the unrestricted passage of a spray and a cutout in itswall having connected axial and radial portions, said overcap beingrotatable over said actuator arm may be made to extend through the axialportion of said cutout when the valve of said container valve assemblyis to be actuated and through the radial portion thereof to lock theactuator arm in a position whereby it cannot be moved to actuate thevalve of said container valve assembly.

2. A valve actuating assembly for a pressurized c0ntainer equipped atone end with a valve assembly including a valve button adapted todischarge the contents of said container substantially along thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the container when depressed, saidvalve actuating assembly comprising:

(a) an anchor ring disposed around the valve assembly and secured to thevalve end of said container,

(b) an actuator arm hinged to the edge of said anchor ring and extendingthereacross said actuator arm bearing on the valve button of saidcontainer valve assembly when depressed and having a central openinglongitudinally matching the opening in the valve button; and

(c) an overcap rotatably mounted on said anchor ring,

said overcap having:

(1) a central opening aligned with the openings in the actuator arm andthe valve button to permit the unrestricted passage of a spraysubstantially along the direction of the longtudinal axis of thecontainer, and

(2) a cutout in its wall having connected axial and radial portions, sothat said actuator arm may be made to extend through the axial portionof said cutout when the valve of said container valve assembly is to beactuated and through the radial portion thereof to lock the actuator armin a position whereby the actuator arm cannot be moved to actuate thevalve assembly.

3. A valve actuating assembly in accordance with claim 2 whereby saidanchor ring has a pair of vertical guide posts extending above said ringin a position opposite the hinged end of the actuator arm, the free endof the actuator arm being positioned between said guide posts forvertical movement therebetween.

4. A valve actuating assembly for a pressurized container having arecessed bottom and being equipped with a valve assembly including avalve button adapted to discharge the contents of said containersubstantially along the direction of the longitudinal axis of thecontainer when depressed, said valve actuating assembly comprismg:

(a) an anchor ring disposed around the valve assembly and secured to theupper portion of said pressurized container;

(b) a sling ring secured to the lower extremity of said container, saidsling ring having a transverse strap disposed across the bottom of saidcontainer for gripping by inserting the fingers around it;

(c) a trigger assembly comprising:

(1) an actuator arm with a central opening hinged to the edge of saidanchor ring and extending thereacross said actuator arm having anopening longitudinally aligning with the opening in the valve button;and

(2) a strap connecting the free end of said actuator arm with said slingring whereby the valve is actuated when said strap is pulled toward thebottom of said container; and

(d) an overcap mounted over said anchor ring having a central opening topermit the passage of a spray substantially along the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the container, said overcap and anchor ring beingrotatable with relation to each other so that the free end of saidactuator arm may be brought into locking engagement with said overcap.

5. A valve actuating assembly for a pressurized container having arecessed bottom and being equipped with a valve assembly including avalve button adapted to discharge the contents of said containersubstantially along the direction of the longitudinal axis of thecontainer when depressed, said valve actuating assembly comprismg:

(a) an anchor ring disposed around the valve assembly and secured to theupper portion of said pressurized container;

(b) a sling ring secured to the lower extremity of said container, saidsling ring having a transverse strap disposed across the bottom of saidcontainer when assembled therewith for gripping by inserting the fingersaround it;

(c) a trigger assembly comprising:

(1) an actuator arm with a central opening hinged to the edge of saidanchor ring and extending thereacross, said actuator arm bearing on thevalve button of said container valve assembly when depressed and havingan opening longitudinally aligning with the valve opening in the valvebutton; and

(2) a strap connecting the free end of said actuator arm with said slingring whereby the valve button is depressed when said strap is pulledtoward the bottom of the container; and

(d) an overcap rotatably mounted on said anchor ring,

said overcap having:

(1) a central opening aligned with the openings in the actuator arm andthe valve button to permit the unrestricted passage of a spraysubstantially along the direction of the longitudinal axis of thecontainer; and

(2) a cutout in its wall having connected axial and radial portions, sothat said actuator arm may be made to extend through the axial portionof said cutout when the valve of said container valve assembly is to beactuated and through the radial portion thereof to lock the actuator armin a position whereby the actuator arm cannot be moved to actuate thevalve assembly.

6. A valve actuating assembly in accordance with claim 5 whereby saidanchor ring has a pair of vertical guide posts extending above said ringin a position opposite the hinged end of the actuator arm, the free endof the actuator arm being positioned between said guide posts forvertical movement therebetween.

7. A valve actuating assembly in accordance with claim 5 whereby thestrap of said trigger assembly connecting the free end of said actuatorarm and the sling ring has a compensating section comprising a pluralityof hinges and a horizontal linkage disposed therebetween whereby thestrap when not in use is maintained closely alongside the container andyet provides sufficient freedom to permit insertion of a finger betweenthe strap and container when said compensating section is expanded.

8. A valve actuating assembly in accordance with claim 5 whereby thestrap of said trigger assembly connecting the free end of said actuatorarm and the sling ring has a trigger section near the sling ringseparated from the remainder of the strap by a pair of hinges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,476,655 Strickland Dec. 4, 1923 2,577,245 'Itlttle et a1. Dec. 4, 19512,685,989 Samuels Aug. 10, 1954 2,706,660 Johnson et al. Apr. 19, 19552,720,422 Mercur Oct. 11, 1955 2,795,799 Dickerman June 18, 19572,948,595 Orr Aug. 9, 1960 3,007,613 Tygard Nov. 7, 1961 3,039,657Meu-wly June 19, 1962

1. A VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR A PRESSURIZED CONTAINER HAVING ARECESSED BOTTOM AND EQUIPPED WITH A VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A VALVEBUTTON ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER ALONG THEDIRECTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CONTAINER WHEN DEPRESSED, SAIDVALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING (A) AN ANCHOR RING TO BE DISPOSEDAROUND THE VALVE ASSEMBLY OF SAID CONTAINER AND SECURED TO THE VALVE CUP(B) A SLING RING TO BE SECURED TO THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID CONTAINER,SAID SLING RING HAVING A TRANSVERSE STRAP DISPOSED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OFSAID CONTAINER WHEN ASSEMBLED THEREWITH FOR GRIPPING BY INSERTING THEFINGERS AROUND IT (C) A TRIGGER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING (1) AN ACTUATOR ARMWITH A CENTRAL OPENING HINGED TO ONE EDGE OF SAID ANCHOR RING ANDEXTENDING THEREACROSS SAID ACTUATOR ARM BEARING ON THE VALVE BUTTON OFSAID CONTAINER VALVE ASSEMBLY WHEN DEPRESSED AND HAVING AN OPENINGLONGITUDINALLY MATCHING THE VALVE OPENING IN THE VALVE BUTTON (2) ASTRAP CONNECTING THE FREE END OF SAID ACTUATOR ARM WITH SAID SLING RINGWHEREBY THE VALVE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED OR TILTED WHEN SAID STRAP ISPULLED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF SAID, CONTAINER, SAID STRAP HAVING ACOMPENSATING SECTION LOCATED NEAR THE ACTUATOR ARM COMPRISING APLURALITY OF HINGES AND HORIZONTAL LINKAGE DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN WHEREBYTHE STRAP WHEN NOT IN USE IS MAINTAINED CLOSELY ALONGSIDE THE CONTAINERAND YET IS LONG ENOUGH TO PERMIT INSERTION OF A FINGER BETWEEN THE STRAPAND CONTAINER AND A TRIGGER SECTION LOCATED NEAR THE SLING RING, AND (D)AN OVERCAP MOUNTED ON SAID ACTUATOR RING, SAID OVERCAP HAVING A CENTRALOPENING MATCHING THE OPENING IN THE ACTUATOR ARM AND THE VALVE BUTTON TOPERMIT THE UNRESTRICTED PASSAGE OF A SPRAY AND A CUTOUT IN ITS WALLHAVING CONNECTED AXIAL AND RADIAL PORTIONS, SAID OVERCAP BEING ROTATABLEOVER SAID ACTUATOR ARM MAY BE MADE TO EXTEND THROUGH THE AXIAL PORTIONOF SAID CUTOUT WHEN THE VALVE OF SAID CONTAINER VALVE ASSEMBLY IS TO BEACTUATED AND THROUGH THE RADIAL PORTION THEREOF TO LOCK THE ACTUATOR ARMIN A POSITION WHEREBY IT CANNOT BE MOVED TO ACTUATE THE VALVE OF SAIDCONTAINER VALVE ASSEMBLY.